Key Trump ally sworn in as US Ambassador-Designate to South Africa

Conservative activist and writer Leo Brent Bozell III has been sworn in as the United States’ (US’s) ambassador to South Africa.

In a statement on 9 January, the US Embassy said that it “looks forward to working under his leadership to advance American priorities and promote a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America through continued engagement with South Africa.”

Bozell is expected to arrive later this month and formally assume his duties after presenting his credentials to the Government of South Africa.

He was confirmed by the US Senate in December along party lines, with all Democrats voting against confirmation.

During his nomination process, Bozell said that it is “a challenging time in US–South Africa relations.”

“The President has expressed serious concerns about issues in South Africa that have gone unaddressed for too long,” he said.

“When people and businesses in South Africa feel their private property rights are at risk, when many South Africans feel unsafe in their homes, when corruption and unfair business practices hinder the economy.”

And, “when some politicians cultivate ties with actors that threaten global peace and security, finding common ground between our two countries becomes more difficult,” he added.

In March, President Donald Trump’s administration expelled South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, who was described by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a “race-baiting politician” who hates Trump.

Trump has established a refugee program “for people who are of Afrikaner ethnicity or a member of a racial minority in South Africa who are victims of government-sponsored race-based discrimination.”

The South African government have vehemently denied all of these assertions, calling them a “campaign of misinformation and propaganda.”

“It is of great concern that the foundational premise of this order lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognise South Africa’s profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid,” said the South African government.

The US has cut aid, boycotted the South African G20 leaders summit, and refused to allow South Africa to attend the US-hosted G20 sumit

South Africa is the US’s largest trading partner on the African continent, with over 500 US businesses employing more than 250,000 South Africans.